Medication delivery system with a detector for providing a signal indicative of an amount of a set and/or ejected dose of drug

• US 8,221,356 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Enggaard, Christian Peter, Nielsen, Preben, Munchow, Bodo von
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, IAN KNOBEL
• Application Number:
  US11/665,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 604/152, 604/207, 606/41
• US Class Current: 604/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3546 Range
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/315 Pistons; Piston-rods; Guiding, blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston; Appliances on the rod for facilitating dosing ; Dosing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31505 Integral with the syringe barrel, i.e. connected to the barrel so as to make up a single complete piece or unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2451 Incremental encoders G01D5/2454 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/023 with provision for varying the stroke of the piston
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/029 provided with electric controlling means G01F11/022 and G01F11/024 take precedence

Abstract

A medication delivery system, comprising: a movable part (230, 232) adapted to move relative to a stationary part; at least two conductors (234, 236) which are arranged such that an electrical characteristic is defined by the mutual position of the movable and the stationary part and/or by movement of one of said parts relative to the other; and a detector for detecting a change of said electrical characteristic, wherein the parts are stationary relative to each other during dose setting and in that the parts are moved relative to each other during dose ejection, such that that detector provides a signal indicative of the actual amount of the ejected dose.

Claims

1. A medication delivery device (100), comprising:

A piston rod (154) for advancing a piston (152) for forcing drug out of a drug containing compartment (150) of a housing (151, 160),

a movable part (156) connected to the piston rod (154) and adapted to rotate relative to the housing (151, 160) to move the piston rod (154) distally with sufficient force to expel the drug from the delivery device;

at least two conductors comprising a first electrically conducting surface (200) and a second electrically conducting surface (202)which are arranged such that an electrical characteristic is defined by the mutual position of the movable part (156) and the housing (151, 160); and

a detector for detecting a change of said electrical characteristic, wherein the movable part (156) comprising the first electrically conducting surface (200) and the housing (151, 160) comprising the second electrically conducting surface (202) are stationary relative to each other during dose setting and in that the movable part (156) and the housing (151, 160) are rotated relative to each other during dose ejection, such that the detector provides a signal indicative of the actual amount of the ejected dose.

2. A pen according to claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic is one of an electrical inductance, a capacitance, an electric resistance, a voltage and an electrical current.